largest map size people will play

[NTJedi]

[quote]Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

Originally posted by NTJedi:
By any chance are the maps created anywhere near close to what we use now?

Heroes_III was a turn based strategy game also. Most of the tools and features from that games map editor could definitely give great ideas for an improved map editor in this game.

[Gandalf Parker]

[quote]Originally posted by NTJedi:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

Originally posted by NTJedi:
By any chance are the maps created anywhere near close to what we use now?

Heroes_III was a turn based strategy game also. Most of the tools and features from that games map editor could definitely give great ideas for an improved map editor in this game.

---

OK I got that. What I was wondering ws if it could be used as an editor for this game now. Or at least if the random generator creates maps that would be good starting points. I suppose I could go look at screenshots but I tohught Id ask.

[Kristoffer O]

OK, I have used Heroes II, Starcraft and Empire Earth editors. True, you can do a lot. An awful lot. I have a hard time imagining how we would make a editor like that. It's more or less a game in itself. At least for me. I can spend endless hours on map and scenatio design.

It would have to be made from scratch, as nothing in dominions works in a way similar to those editors.

An editor like that will never be made. Simpler ones might.

[NTJedi]

Originally posted by Kristoffer O:
OK, I have used Heroes II, Starcraft and Empire Earth editors. True, you can do a lot. An awful lot. I have a hard time imagining how we would make a editor like that. It's more or less a game in itself. At least for me. I can spend endless hours on map and scenatio design.

It would have to be made from scratch, as nothing in dominions works in a way similar to those editors.

An editor like that will never be made. Simpler ones might.

I know matching those editors would be far to great of a task. My thought was that by reviewing these other map editors you and your team could decide which of these features could easily be added into a future dominions map editor. For example... depending on the programming and game engine it may be easy to add the feature of disabling spells in this games future editor.

Some features should be easy to add... I'm sure others are not possible or far to time consuming. Hopefully the Heroes_III map editor will provide some great ideas.

[Miles]

Originally posted by Kristoffer O:
An editor like that will never be made. Simpler ones might.

Seems like we can get most of the immediate benefit if somebody wrote a howto. The way I would approach this is to use GIMP (free and available on the same platforms at Dom2). Seems like it would look like:
- Importing the initial graphic.
- Removing the white pixels.
- Creating additional layers:
The white dot layer.
The border layer.
The province name layer
The embellishment layer (trees and whatever)
- Merging the layers.
- Saving as a .tga
- Importing into the map editor.
- Creating the neighbors.
- Creating the province values.
- Finishing the .map file by hand.
- Testing.
- Posting info to the forums.
- Getting your map on Illwinter's site.

You should include sample images that could be imported into GIMP as the various layers. And a image file full of embellishments ready for cut-n-paste. And a finished .tga & .map file.

At this point, most anybody could follow the instructions and build a map.

Miles

[Gandalf Parker]

Well GIMP is what the Devs use. It is a great program although a couple levels higher than a "play with a paint" program that some might prefer.

Kristoffer mentioned a couple of times letting loose with a brush file, or palette, or maybe just a tga filled with the terrain icons he uses. But I get the impression that every time he starts on it he ends up playing with more stuff.

The things you laid out look fine though. Maybe we Users should tackle it? There are a few GIMPers floating around here.

-- Yeah I'm finally a GIMP. Shoulda been one long ago.
If I only GNU then what I GNOME now.

[ January 16, 2004, 02:04: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]